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Our Little German Cousin
THE
Little Cousin Series
(TRADE MARK)
Each volume illustrated with six or more full-page plates in tint. Cloth, 12mo, with decorative cover, per volume, 60 cents
LIST OF TITLES
BY MARY HAZELTON WADE
(unless otherwise indicated)
=Our Little African Cousin=
=Our Little Alaskan Cousin= By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet
=Our Little Arabian Cousin= By Blanche McManus
=Our Little Armenian Cousin=
=Our Little Brazilian Cousin= By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet
=Our Little Brown Cousin=
=Our Little Canadian Cousin= By Elizabeth R. Macdonald
=Our Little Chinese Cousin= By Isaac Taylor Headland
=Our Little Cuban Cousin=
=Our Little Dutch Cousin= By Blanche McManus
=Our Little English Cousin= By Blanche McManus
=Our Little Eskimo Cousin=
=Our Little French Cousin= By Blanche McManus
=Our Little German Cousin=
=Our Little Hawaiian Cousin=
=Our Little Hindu Cousin= By Blanche McManus
=Our Little Indian Cousin=
=Our Little Irish Cousin=
=Our Little Italian Cousin=
=Our Little Japanese Cousin=
=Our Little Jewish Cousin=
=Our Little Korean Cousin= By H. Lee M. Pike
=Our Little Mexican Cousin= By Edward C. Butler
=Our Little Norwegian Cousin=
=Our Little Panama Cousin= By H. Lee M. Pike
=Our Little Philippine Cousin=
=Our Little Porto Rican Cousin=
=Our Little Russian Cousin=
=Our Little Scotch Cousin= By Blanche McManus
=Our Little Siamese Cousin=
=Our Little Spanish Cousin= By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet
=Our Little Swedish Cousin= By Claire M. Coburn
=Our Little Swiss Cousin=
(_In Preparation_)
=Our Little Australian Cousin=
L. C. PAGE & COMPANY New England Building, Boston, Mass.
BERTHA.]
Our Little German Cousin
By Mary Hazelton Wade
_Illustrated, by_ L. J. Bridgman
Boston L. C. Page & Company _PUBLISHERS_
_Copyright, 1904_ BY L. C. PAGE & COMPANY (INCORPORATED)
_All rights reserved_
THE LITTLE COUSIN SERIES (_Trade Mark_)
Published June, 1904 Fifth Impression, October, 1907
Colonial Press Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Simonds & Co. Boston, Mass., U. S. A.
Preface
WHEN the word Germany comes to our minds, we think at once of ruinedcastles, fairies, music, and soldiers. Why is it?
First, as to the castles. Here and there along the banks of the RiverRhine, as well as elsewhere throughout the country, the traveller isconstantly finding himself near some massive stone ruin. It seems everready to tell stories of long ago,--of brave knights who defended itswalls, of beautiful princesses saved from harm, of sturdy boys andsweet-faced girls who once played in its gardens. For Germany is thehome of an ancient and brave people, who have often been called upon toface powerful enemies.
Next, as to the fairies. It seems as though the dark forests ofGermany, the quiet valleys, and the banks of the beautiful rivers,were the natural homes of the fairy-folk, the gnomes and the elves, thewater-sprites and the sylphs. Our German cousins listen with wonder anddelight to the legends of fearful giants and enchanted castles, andmany of the stories they know so well have been translated into otherlanguages for their cousins of distant lands, who are as fond of themas the blue-eyed children of Germany.
As to the music, it seems as though every boy and girl in the wholecountry drew in the spirit of song with the air they breathe. They singwith a love of what they are singing, they play as though the tune werea part of their very selves. Some of the finest musicians have beenGermans, and their gifts to the world have been bountiful.
As for soldiers, we know that every man in Germany must stand ready todefend his country. He must serve his time in drilling and trainingfor war. He is a necessary part of that Fatherland he loves so dearly.
Our fair-haired German cousins are busy workers and hard students.They must learn quite early in life that they have duties as well aspleasures, and the duties cannot be set aside or forgotten. But theylove games and holidays as dearly as the children of our own land.
Contents
CHAPTER PAGE I. CHRISTMAS 1 II. TOY-MAKING 10 III. THE WICKED BISHOP 23 IV. THE COFFEE-PARTY 40 V. THE BEAUTIFUL CASTLE 48 VI. THE GREAT FREDERICK 60 VII. THE BRAVE PRINCESS 71 VIII. WHAT THE WAVES BRING 83 IX. THE MAGIC SWORD 94
List of Illustrations
PAGE BERTHA _Frontispiece_ BERTHA'S FATHER AND MOTHER 11 THE RATS' TOWER 28 COURTYARD OF HEIDELBERG CASTLE 52 STATUE OF FREDERICK THE GREAT 63 BERTHA'S HOME 83
Our Little German Cousin